movies--are they that big a deal?

[Rlandrigan]

All i know is now I'm sad we changed from a March cruise where we would have had Captain Marvel premiere to an October one where we get....Jungle Cruise.

 

[Numtini]

I don't think it's a big deal, but our daughter wanted the kids club in a big way, and we hadn't seen Ragnarok and heard it was good, didn't see anything else exciting on the ship, and we were tired and the notion of sitting down for two hours seemed kind of pleasant, so "hey why not."

 

[Spotthecat]

We have 3 young children. For DH and I to see a movie together, alone, takes lots of coordination that we normally can't handle. Having kids in the kids club, we didn't know what to do with ourselves so we went to see Star Wars. Again

 

[kiford]

When you decide to buy something, don't you calculate the number of hours you had to work in order to pay for it to decide if the thing you wanna buy it's a good investment or not?

No. I've already earned that money so I calculate whether spending the money is for something that's of value to me; that incorporates many factors beyond the mere objective financial calculation of what I can get for the money and how much I'd have to work to earn that. I'd rather stay at a 5 star hotel than a 3 star motel even though they both have rooms with beds. But one gives me more pleasure than the other. That's my value.

What I understood from OP's question is that some activities gives you more bang for your bucks than others and I agreed that some choices seem more like a logical investment than others.

I don't personally consider a vacation a logical investment, or even an investment at all. And "bang for your buck" is for me the value I receive, which is not an objective financial calculation. What I enjoy at home is going to be pretty much what I enjoy on vacation. There may be times when there is a choice that I have to make between "I can do this at home" and "this is something different" which may factor into the decision/value proposition. For some people getting value out of their expenditure is going to be ensuring that they aren't paying more for the same experience at home but for us it's a more complex and subjective determination. Everyone has to vacation in the way that makes them the happiest and most satisfied. Just don't ever vacation with someone who feels differently from you.

 

[cadien]

The trouble with deciding attending a movie is a waste of your cruise fare is then what about sitting on a deck chair?

 

[MichelleCanada]

We enjoyed watching a few movies on our last 7 day cruise. One movie my DH and I went to while our DS5 was in the kids club (it was a date night without having to coordinate a sitter). It rained so much the first two days at sea for us that they closed the outside decks - so a movie was a good break from bingo and crafts. The same as so many other things you decide to do on vacation - see what you feel like at the time and enjoy!

 

[mevelandry]

No. I've already earned that money so I calculate whether spending the money is for something that's of value to me; that incorporates many factors beyond the mere objective financial calculation of what I can get for the money and how much I'd have to work to earn that. I'd rather stay at a 5 star hotel than a 3 star motel even though they both have rooms with beds. But one gives me more pleasure than the other. That's my value.

I don't personally consider a vacation a logical investment, or even an investment at all. And "bang for your buck" is for me the value I receive, which is not an objective financial calculation. What I enjoy at home is going to be pretty much what I enjoy on vacation. There may be times when there is a choice that I have to make between "I can do this at home" and "this is something different" which may factor into the decision/value proposition. For some people getting value out of their expenditure is going to be ensuring that they aren't paying more for the same experience at home but for us it's a more complex and subjective determination. Everyone has to vacation in the way that makes them the happiest and most satisfied. Just don't ever vacation with someone who feels differently from you.

Me too. However, since the number of stars may have a different signification depending on where you stay (ex: A 4 star hotel in Cuba could be the equivalent of 2 stars in Canada), my principal criterias for hotels are usually comfort and location... so whenever I can fin a reasonable price for it, I'll book it. As a pre-cruise stay during our next family cruise, we plan to stay in WDW because my MIL wants the Mouse. We could stay in a value but we like the Deluxe beddings and pools better and the location would not be ideal since we are travelling with seniors. We planned to go to Cape May Cafe and the mini-golf so the obvious choice is a Boardwalk hotel.

Maybe I'm lost in translation again. In french, we sometimes use the word "investment" the same way we would use the word "buy" or "expense". Obviously not like a house or stocks. *I edited the comment you replied to in order to use a more accurate word, hopefully it will be understood the way I mean it.*

I did and I do: I travel with my husband. He's actually wayyyy more frugal than I am...

I do not understand what would make people believe that I make choices strictly based on financial value... I do not, but when it comes to something expensive and "non-essential" (like a cruise) , I think it would be a little bit too carefree on my part to ignore it. Money doesn't grow on trees.

 

[mevelandry]

The trouble with deciding attending a movie is a waste of your cruise fare is then what about sitting on a deck chair?

I can't see the ocean from my balcony at home.

In fact, I don't even have a balcony. Nor a bath (just a shower). I live in a Tiny House. LOL

 

[Mitura]

We like the movies and have gone to several.

Our oldest son is 15 and autistic. So the movies are a huge thing for him. He loves going to see first run movies with no one in the theater, the more movies the better.

One of his best stories is seeing Ant Man (for like the 5th time) in the theater all by himself. He tells us that Pluto came in and sat and watched the movie with him for a bit, just him and Pluto. Where else can that happen?

Friends ask us about family cruising. For us (like other posters have said) we are "stuck" (in a good way) together for a week. So we do family things together, things we don't have time for at home. Movies, trivia, towel folding, dinner, Uno, Monopoly, excursions, shows, beach, bingo, pool, Aquaduck, etc. As long as we spend time together. When we are back home life is too hectic to do things together.

The important thing is to have fun!!!

Joe

 

[All about me]

At home, going out to a movie is a whole production. On the cruise, I enjoyed being able to just pop down to the theatre. So, while seeing a movie on a short cruise is not something I would plan to do, I would certainly be open to doing it if others in my party wanted to. And, on our seven day cruise, I definitely plan to see Incredibles 2 (as my rotten grandchildren outvoted me 3-1 to see Jurassic World instead).

When you decide to buy something, don't you calculate the number of hours you had to work in order to pay for it to decide if the thing you wanna buy it's a good investment or not?

Only when I am on the fence about the purchase. Then that strategy usually knocks me into the 'no' category and saves me regret (and money).

On a cruise I ignore the money aspect because it has already been paid and I cannot get it back by avoiding an activity so I will try just about anything that is included. (I want to try towel folding this cruise and learn how to make the swan.) If there is a choice to be made, I make it on the basis of what do I and/or my grandchild/ren wants to do more.

 

[monarchsfan16]

My husband is someone who goes to the movies a lot at home, so we always check the movie schedule when we get on board. We've been on two 4 night cruises. On the first, we went to see 2 movies together. On the 2nd, he went to see one with his dad (the 11 pm "premEAR" of Avengers: Infinity War). The "premEAR" was obvious in its value. That was for the experience, and they would have seen it anyway, so why not see it for no additional cost, at an hour when he didn't have anything on the agenda other than sleep (and we were docking in Nassau the next day...so missing a couple hours of sleep was no big deal). On the first cruise, we made it a point to see the live action Jungle Book, because we weren't sure we were going to like it, so...why pay extra? We also saw Zootopia, which we had seen at home, because there was nothing on the schedule that excited us (this was also probably a Nassau day) and we had loved the movie, so...let's see it again at no extra cost. Honestly, the no extra cost part is where the value is. Also...we are not sit on the pool deck people. When we saw the movies, in all cases, they were movies we wanted to see, and they weren't interfering with activities we wanted to do.

 

[alexce]

Yep, we like the movies too. And like an earlier poster, we happened to be on the Fantasy when Frozen premiered, and there was a great combo of anticipation and fun in the packed theatre (although I don't think anyone knew what a phenomenon it would become). My other favorite movie thing - we often will pop into the late night showings, and while I don't always remember the entire film - one night about five of us made it to the end and it seemed like we were the only people awake on the ship at 2am. Took lots of pics of the empty gorgeous atrium, the Xmas tree, etc. You never know when a long-lasting DCL memory will happen...

 

[Eeyore54 fred]

I rarely go out to movies at home because there always seems to be something else I need to do with my time. So I’m looking forward to seeing what is showing on our next cruise and maybe catching up on some movies I was hoping to see.

 

[heather913]

Why do people care so much what other people think? I want people to do things on the ship that I don't want to do. It makes the things I enjoy less crowded.

 

[dcassetta]

Our oldest son is 15 and autistic. So the movies are a huge thing for him. He loves going to see first run movies with no one in the theater, the more movies the better.

One of his best stories is seeing Ant Man (for like the 5th time) in the theater all by himself. He tells us that Pluto came in and sat and watched the movie with him for a bit, just him and Pluto. Where else can that happen?

Joe

Love this story! I don't always go to a movie while cruising, but last fall on the Marvel cruise, we really wanted to see Thor Ragnarok. It had already opened on land, but we hadn't got around to seeing it. Prior to the movies beginning, there was a preview for Black Panther. Right after the preview had started, Black Panther actually came into the theater and was standing in the side aisle watching the preview. We were pretty far back in the theater so saw him as soon as he came in, and then over the next minute or so you could hear a little whispers around the theater and everyone turning to see that he was there. At the end of the preview he did a little bow and the Wakanda forever salute, and the audience cheered. Then we got to see the very enjoyable Thor.

I guess the fact that special little things like this can occur, make going to a movie on a Disney cruise a little more fun.

 

[Lilsia]

Love this story! I don't always go to a movie while cruising, but last fall on the Marvel cruise, we really wanted to see Thor Ragnarok. It had already opened on land, but we hadn't got around to seeing it. Prior to the movies beginning, there was a preview for Black Panther. Right after the preview had started, Black Panther actually came into the theater and was standing in the side aisle watching the preview. We were pretty far back in the theater so saw him as soon as he came in, and then over the next minute or so you could hear a little whispers around the theater and everyone turning to see that he was there. At the end of the preview he did a little bow and the Wakanda forever salute, and the audience cheered. Then we got to see the very enjoyable Thor.

I guess the fact that special little things like this can occur, make going to a movie on a Disney cruise a little more fun.

That is awesome!

 

[cruiser21]

Me too. However, since the number of stars may have a different signification depending on where you stay (ex: A 4 star hotel in Cuba could be the equivalent of 2 stars in Canada), my principal criterias for hotels are usually comfort and location... so whenever I can fin a reasonable price for it, I'll book it. As a pre-cruise stay during our next family cruise, we plan to stay in WDW because my MIL wants the Mouse. We could stay in a value but we like the Deluxe beddings and pools better and the location would not be ideal since we are travelling with seniors. We planned to go to Cape May Cafe and the mini-golf so the obvious choice is a Boardwalk hotel.

Maybe I'm lost in translation again. In french, we sometimes use the word "investment" the same way we would use the word "buy" or "expense". Obviously not like a house or stocks. *I edited the comment you replied to in order to use a more accurate word, hopefully it will be understood the way I mean it.*

I did and I do: I travel with my husband. He's actually wayyyy more frugal than I am...

I do not understand what would make people believe that I make choices strictly based on financial value... I do not, but when it comes to something expensive and "non-essential" (like a cruise) , I think it would be a little bit too carefree on my part to ignore it. Money doesn't grow on trees.

I don't put a lot of stock int the star rating system. The stars just mean the amenities offered. Nothing to do with how clean or nice the rooms are. I really value trip advisor ratings and you will see a lot of 4 and 5 star hotels with poor reviews.

I book vacations based on financial value. Who doesn't? I guess it depends on how you define financial value. To me the value I'm getting has to be worth the cost. I don't look at how many hours I have to work to pay for it, but how long it will take me save up for it. We cruise about 3 times a year so cost is important. Once a cruise is paid for I dont worry about the money aspect of it. I just try to enjoy myself.

 

[cgolf]

For us my DD and I watched 2 movies on board, Bridge of spies, great, and Lincoln, not so great. We only did this because it was a late night showing and because we had been on enough cruises, the act or activity we were skipping we had already seen or done.

As for the other discussion, I have been to one movie in a theater in the last 20 years, library lets us get them for free so why not. We are super frugal and rarely eat out and if we do it isn’t a splurge meal. When we vacation on land we pack most of our meals etc.

The one thing I can say about cruising though is the cost per day is tough to beat on a land vacation

 

[RedSox68]

The FB book for my cruise has a couple of threads talking about what movies will be playing. Is it weird that for a short cruise, I have no intention of spending 2 hours in a theatre? If I want to see a movie I can go while I'm home--even if Im cheap I can go on a Tuesday for $5.
Now for a longer cruise, one with a sea day, maybe that would be a good idea. Or if it rains on CC day and drives us back on the ship. Or if we had kids with us. But we are spending our Nassau day onboard and have spa day passes and a mixology class scheduled. Time is so precious on short cruises I don't get the time spent watching a movie. Am I missing something?

Not weird at all! Many enjoy it and I think it's a great thing for families to do as part of their cruise. A lot easier than toting everyone to the movies and plus it's free. However, for us, the only onboard experiences that we enjoyed 1,000 percent as compared to just going to a neighborhood movie was watching the premiere of Pirates on a moving ship, and seeing Casino Royale while sailing out of Europe. But for the most part, many of our theater experiences were not enjoyable. No one monitors the theater and we've had problems with out of control kids and teens who had no intention of watching the movie but just making noise. In 10 Disney cruises, we've only been to the movie theater 4 times. We don't bother anymore (and why is it so dang cold in there!)

 

[Minnie & Daisy]

I rarely go out to movies at home because there always seems to be something else I need to do with my time. So I’m looking forward to seeing what is showing on our next cruise and maybe catching up on some movies I was hoping to see.

This is me in a nutshell. Cruising is all about doing things that you will enjoy and may not do when you are at home. It makes no difference if that means sitting in a movie theater for a few hours or lounging on a deck chair by the pool. To each their own.